'They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.' (Micah 5:2-5 NIV)
This is a prophecy about the King of Israel. It is quite plain in some of its pronouncements: that Bethlehem would be the birth place of Messiah, that He would be great, and would bring peace and security to Israel. But there are other subtle, important details to be found if we look.
Bethlehem was not a significant city, but a small village. It was most noteworthy as being the place where King David's family was from (see the book of Ruth). Though other prophecies had indicated that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, this prophecy indicated the He would be born in David's home town as well. Bethlehem was also famous for being the burial place for Rachel, Israel's beloved wife.
Not only would the Messiah be born in Bethlehem; this prophecy also states that He would have eternal origins. His birth would not be the beginning of His being. Unlike us mortals, His existence did not begin at a discrete point in time. Rather, He came down from heaven to be the shepherd for Israel, the eternal King whose kingdom would ultimately reach to the ends of the earth.
But Israel rejected Him, or more accurately, continued their rejection of Him that Micah had denounced some 700 years earlier. "My people have risen up like an enemy," the Lord had proclaimed through Micah (2:8). The one who would be ruler over Israel would get a rude reception when He appeared in person. Micah was very specific about the kind of treatment He would endure: "They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod."
As a consequence "Israel would be abandoned," temporarily rejected by God. But until when? When would this period of rejection be over? According to Micah, the "until" has two parts, two parts that coincide with the Messiah's first and second appearances: (1) "she" gives birth (birth of the Messiah Jesus) and (2) the rest of his brothers join the Israelites. The first was fulfilled in 4 BC, and the second part is a work in progress, not yet complete.
This second part is the building of the congregation of brothers which will join Israel, the Gentile church. Jesus testifies of this in Hebrews 2:12-13: (quoting from prophecies in Psalm 22:22 and Isaiah 8:18) 'He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." ... And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."' Paul clarified this by saying, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in." (Romans 11:25 NIV) So this prophecy, along with the more familiar elements, also contains a hint about the Gentile "brothers," or the church.
There are other subtle hints about the Messiah worth noting in this prophecy. Consider this statement "He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God." It speaks of the nature of the Messiah. He would possess the strength and majesty of God. But who but God alone possesses the strength and the majesty of God? No one. No one, that is, but the Son of God. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." (Hebrews 1:3 NIV)
This prophecy speaks of Jesus' birth, His eternal and divine nature, His rejection, and the abandonment of Israel. But that's not the end of the story. The rest of it is yet to be fulfilled - when Jesus the King of the Jews takes His rightful throne on Mount Zion. Then His greatness will be acclaimed by all on the earth. Finally, Israel will receive the peace and security it longs for in the care of "the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel" (Genesis 49:24).
Trumpet Sounds 12/20/99